When Owen leaves the team, who will carry the basketable Nets flag of attack? 21-year-old Cameron Thomas waved his hand and started his performance. In two consecutive games, Thomas scored 44 points and 47 points respectively. The crazy performance made the whole NBA tremble. How did this young defender, who has only played three starts in his career, challenge the strong NBA?
From Garbage Time to scoring maniac
Thomas’s crazy performance was not accidental. In the two games before 44 points, his scores were 19 points and 21 points respectively, which had the meaning of rising. In last February, Thomas also had a highlight moment, at that time, he scored double in 9 consecutive games, and the one with the highest score scored 30 points. However, in the basketable nets rounds, Thomas’s position was not stable. His playing time was always Intermittent. Sometimes he could play for 30 minutes, but sometimes he could only appear in garbage time.
At the end of last season, after a period of crazy performance, Thomas gradually calmed down and hardly played in the playoffs with Celtics. The same is true this season. Thomas did well in the preseason, but when the regular season began, he did not play in 5 of the first 8 games, and the other 2 games did not last more than 1 minute, after a period of good performance in November, it began to rise and fall again, and the position in the team was somewhat awkward.
Obviously, Thomas, who can continue to cut points for the double, is a player with certain strength, but it is always difficult for him to get a relatively stable playing time, which also greatly affects his performance. This season, even though he has scored more than 44 points twice, Thomas still scored less than 10 points on average. Obviously, this is the impact caused by his unstable playing time before.
With Owen’s departure, Thomas’s spring may come. If basketable nets no longer adjust the lineup, Thomas, who has continuously cracked performance, occupies a major position, there should be no big problem.
Stable jump shot is a sharp tool for scoring
Thomas’s draft was not in high rank. He was the 27th show in the first round in 2021. after coming to basketable nets, he struggled for a period of time before gradually gaining the opportunity to perform. It can be said that it is really not easy for Thomas to play today’s performance.
Outside shooting is Thomas’s primary conventional weapon. In the last two games, he scored 4 and 7 three-point goals respectively. Today, against the Clippers, the hit rate of 7 out of 11 shots was quite considerable. In the last game, 4 out of 5 shots, the hit rate also reaches 80%. At shoot behind the arc, Thomas’s movements were very smooth and coherent. He jumped very high when shooting, which could avoid the interference of defensive players to the greatest extent. At the same time, as long as there was enough space for shooting, thomas, who can vote in receive the ball, can ensure good efficiency and stable jump shot, which occupies a large part of his score.
The position of about one step in the downtown and three-point lines is Thomas’s most common shot point. His three-point and middle-distance shots are currently higher than the league average. Relatively speaking, the breakthrough is not Thomas’s strength, but the breakthrough on the right is lower than the average level. But that doesn’t mean he can’t score within restricted area near the basket. Thomas has the best skill to throw the ball into restricted area near the basket with one hand even if he is at the edge of RIM. This technical feature also makes it more difficult for defensive players to face Thomas.
At present, Thomas can score 9.5 points after 15.2 minutes of average appearance, but his rebound and assist data are not outstanding. From this perspective, Thomas’s role is more in favor of a pure scorer. His offensive efficiency is not bad, but Thomas still has a long way to go to become a more comprehensive defender.
Supernova with my mother
The continuous outstanding performance made Thomas’s name constantly mentioned by people. At the age of 21, he scored more than 44 points back to back, which was a rare achievement. Previously, only James, Iverson and donchic had done this. Young Thomas, from the team’s substitute to become the most anticipated new star.
Thomas’s growing experience is as distinctive as his performance on the court. In October 2001, he was born in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. Thomas’s mother Leslie was a female soldier who served in South Korea and Japan. Therefore, some media once mistook Thomas’s nationality for Japan. At the age of 5, Thomas began to get in touch with basketball under the drive of his family. His mother Leslie was a school team player in high school, and she became her son’s first basketball coach.
Kobe was Thomas’s childhood idol. His sheets, carpets and even the walls of the room all symbolize the purple and gold of the Lakers. Every time there was Kobe’s game, Thomas would be particularly excited. The company of his mother and the encouragement of his idol drove Thomas to make continuous progress on the basketball court. He became a frequent visitor to the stadium near his home and practiced every day under the guidance of his mother. After the training, his mother would cook and wash clothes for him and accompany him to watch the video of the game between Kobe and harden.
In this way, Thomas has been famous since high school and has become one of the best freshmen in NCAA at Louisiana university. In 2021, Thomas was selected on the 27th in the first round in basketable nets. He once improved himself by watching the video of Harden’s game. He once became a teammate with Harden-the story of dreams shining into reality, but that was the case.
Now, Thomas is already one of the most watched young players in NBA. In an interview, he said that he likes playing, so he is always ready. Harden and Owen left one after another. Durant was the only one left among the three giants in basketable nets. Is Thomas ready to become a new giant? There is no doubt that his name will continue to shine!
(Supine support/Yin Chongzeng)